Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion In Almost Continuous Session
During the Past Week.
The Washington Navy Yard Being Rapidly
Converted Into a Great Ordnance
Foundry.
Occagional CORRESPONDENCE.

Occasional Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE inter
state commerce commission has been in
almost continuous session during the
past week, much of its time being occu-
pied in listening to the arguments Of a.
tornevs in the interest of several great
railroad systems in the south aud west
whose business has been most seriously
affected by the law. The section known
as the "Iong and short haul clause"
which prohibits railroad companies
from discriminating in favor of
shippers 20 distant points has the most
serious effeC. upon the interests OF the
various companies, and in order to enable
the commission 70 carefully consider the
question, an order was issued on
Wednesday last suspendIng the opera
ton Of the Objectionable clause for
ninety days. The commission has
secured c0mmodious Offices II
the new Baltimore Sun building.
This is en- eight-story, marble front struc-
ture, 10 which the builders ar just put
ting the finishing touches. It was built
and is owned by the Baltimore Sun Pub
fishing Company. 1t is centrally located
Interior Department upon one hand and
the Treasury On the other, and is by far
the finest private building in the city.
The request Of the CoCkrell committee
for data concerning the duties of the en-
plOyees il the various branches Of the
service, has caused much complaint in
the several executive departments on &C
count of the large amount of extra WORK
imposed On the clerks. In several of the
departments 1t has been found necessary
to work after hours in order to catch up
with the current business. It is thought
that the printing of the data furnished to
the committee will require at least eight
or ten large volumes.
The news that two or three Of the
southern military companies decided TO
withdraw from participation IN the ma
tiOual drill on account of the admission
Of COlOTed troops TO competition is gen.
orally regretted here. Not that il will
have the least effect upon the enterprise,
the success of which is 50 well assured,
but because it puts the companies with
drawing in a position which is not tena-
Die. The idea that to compete with col
Ored companies in the drill is to admit of
social eq uality is TOO absurd to admit Of
argument.
The worE of converting the Washing
ton Navy Yard into a great ordnance
foundry fCc the MAJ ufacture Of steel guns
for The naVy Is being pushed rapidly for
ward. II is proposed TO establish fOun-
dry capable Of turning out forty steel
guns Of the largest size each year, be
sides supplying all Of The ordinance stores !
Of the vessels in c lmmissiOn. To do this
will require TIE services Of 1000 men and
the MONTH pay roll viii exceed $50, 600. |
Although the law strictly prohibits the
sale Of liquors IN Washington on Sunday, !
the saloon keepers generally have been
so persistent in evading it as 10 render
the prohibition clause practically a dead
letter. TIE commissioners have deter /
mined that in the future the law shall
be strictly enforced, and in
accordance with this decision they
effect that call keepers Of hotels, saloons
and restaurants in the District of Colum-
bia who have been twice convicted Of
selling liquor on Sunday, shall upon sec
Ond conviction forfeit their license, and |
no license snail be granted to the person |
so offending, nor to Y one else occupying |
the premises upon which the Offense Was |
committed, during the license year then !
next ensuing" This order will no doubt !
have the desired effect as it cuts of every !
chance of escape for the saloon keepers, |
and it is not probable that any of them
viii have temeTity to run so dangerous q |
risk as that of selling liquor on Sunday |
now involves.